U-turn Required!
Scripture Reading: Exodus 22:1-15
1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen
for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so
that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there
shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he
shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox
or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.
5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in
another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of
his own vineyard.
6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field
is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
7 “If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’
s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, then the master
of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his
neighbor’s goods.
9 “For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or
for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall
come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his
neighbor. 10 If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to
keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, 11 then an oath of the LORD shall
be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the
owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. 12 But if, in fact, it is stolen from
him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. 13 If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he
shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn.
14 “And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the
owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. 15 If its owner was with it, he shall
not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire.
As you probably noticed, we're not talking about another Moabite this week. In
fact, you're probably wondering what in the world we are talking about. I must
admit, this is a bit of an odd passage to use as our scripture reading. It's
important to know that this was given to the children of Israel during a time when
God was preparing them to receive His Law. What you may not have noticed is
that everything mentioned in those fifteen verses has to do with taking
responsibility.
It begins by talking about a thief taking responsibility for what he has stolen. The
bottom line is that not only does he need to replace it but he must also multiply the
restitution. It's not like you can just give back what you've stolen. That wouldn't
really be making restitution because you would have lost anything. If you made it
a practice to steal, you would only have to give back what you'd stolen IF you get
caught. It could still be profitable. This forces you to take responsibility for your
actions. Also, if a thief is struck and killed while robbing someone at night, the
person who was protecting their home and family is not responsible. The thief
would be responsible for his own death because of his choice to steal.
Now, the next few situations are about someone who doesn't necessarily make the
choice to do something wrong. Maybe, your animal gets loose and grazes on
someone else's field or if you start a fire, like a campfire or something and it gets
out of hand and burns someone's field or their grain, guess what? You have to
take responsibility for it! If someone lends you something and something happens
to it, you have to take responsibility for it. Do you see a pattern happening? I
think God's letting us know it is important for us to take responsibility. As I said
before this lesson in responsibility comes before the giving of the Law. I believe
there's a very good reason for that. Let's go back to the beginning.
Genesis 3:9-13
9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and
I hid myself.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which
I commanded you that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree,
and I ate.”
13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Neither of them took responsibility for their own actions. They both attempted to
justify their actions by throwing the blame elsewhere. I wonder if that's why God
asked the questions that He asked? God is all knowing so why would He need to
ask what had happened? Maybe He was giving them the opportunity to take
responsibility for what they had done. I wonder what may have been different if
they had been repentant? Let's take a look at their son.
Genesis 4:8-9
8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field,
that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
See, again God asks a question He already knew the answer to. Cain, just as his
parents had done, does not take responsibility for his actions. God made things
clear to Solomon. 2 Chronicles 7:14, if My people who are called by My name will
humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. This is
what God requires, that we turn from our wicked ways. That we repent! Let's look
at someone who did repent!
Job 42:6-10
6 Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.”
7 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to
Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have
not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take for
yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves
a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with
you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My
servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did
as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. 10 And the LORD restored
Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as
he had before.
Job repented and was given double what he'd had before. God accepted him.
Isn't that pretty much the theme of the prophets? Repent! Return to the LORD
Yahweh. We hear this theme repeated over and over in scripture. Isn't that the
message John the Baptist was sent to preach? To prepare the way for the Lord?
Matthew 3:1-8
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the
prophet Isaiah, saying:
“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘ Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.’”
4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and
his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around
the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to
them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear
fruits worthy of repentance.
Jesus told us over and over what was important.
Mark 2:16-17, 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax
collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax
collectors and sinners?”
17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician,
but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Matthew 11:20-24
20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done,
because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the
mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have
repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for
Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are
exalted to heaven, will be[d] brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were
done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to
you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
He rebuked the cities for failing to repent. He make it clear that He had come to
caller sinners to repentance. Luke 24:46-47, 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is
written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the
third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
His disciples knew what the deal was. Mark 6:12, So they went out and preached that
people should repent. And Acts 3:19 (NASV), Therefore repent and return, so that your
sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of
the Lord (Whenever there is a question about a word I use the NASV because it is
our closest translation to the actual Greek and Hebrew that were used. The KJV
and the NKJV use 'convert' not 'return'. Peter seems to clearly be telling his fellow
Jews, to return to the the LORD Yahweh, not to convert to another religion)
It has always been about the repentance; having an attitude of repentance! So,
why does it seem like so many teach that the key is to believe that Jesus died for
their sin and to accept His sacrifice and therefore be saved? Make no mistake,
the blood being applied is most definitely what facilitates remission of sin.
However, in order to show fruit in keeping with repentance, as John the Baptist
said, there has to be a turn away from sin. I've just seen so many go to the altar,
say a prayer, and get baptized without ever seeming to take reponsibility for their
sin and turning from it; never showing any fruit of repentance. Repenting of sin is
more than some words to be said; there is action involved. I mentioned before
that our scripture reading was from the time when God was preparing Israel to
receive His Law, just as John the Baptist came to prepare the way. Let's take a
look at what He was preparing them for.
Exodus 24:4-8
4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built
an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of
Israel. 5 Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and
sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. 6 And Moses took half the blood and put it
in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the
Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has said
we will do, and be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and
said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all
these words.”
He was preparing them to take responsibility; to hear the words of the Law and
agree to be obedient. Notice that the sacrifice was made and part of the blood
was used to sanctify the altar. Then the Law was read to them. Then they
agreed to be obedient. Then the blood was sprinkled on them. Did you notice
the succession? Remember, this was a foreshadowing of the better sacrifice and
the better covenant that was to come. So, things should remain in that same
order for the new sacrifice and the new covenant. The sacrifice was made, half
the blood sanctified the altar, the Law was read, the people pledged obedience,
then the blood was sprinkled on them. When someone comes to the altar, we
must make sure that they are aware that obedience is required. We must be
aware for ourselves that obedience is required. We must also bear fruit, in
keeping with repentance. Leviticus 11:45, For I am the LORD who brings you up out of
the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date: February 25, 2007
Scripture Reading: Exodus 22:1-15
1 “If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and slaughters it or sells it, he shall restore five oxen
for an ox and four sheep for a sheep. 2 If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so
that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed. 3 If the sun has risen on him, there
shall be guilt for his bloodshed. He should make full restitution; if he has nothing, then he
shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the theft is certainly found alive in his hand, whether it is an ox
or donkey or sheep, he shall restore double.
5 “If a man causes a field or vineyard to be grazed, and lets loose his animal, and it feeds in
another man’s field, he shall make restitution from the best of his own field and the best of
his own vineyard.
6 “If fire breaks out and catches in thorns, so that stacked grain, standing grain, or the field
is consumed, he who kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.
7 “If a man delivers to his neighbor money or articles to keep, and it is stolen out of the man’
s house, if the thief is found, he shall pay double. 8 If the thief is not found, then the master
of the house shall be brought to the judges to see whether he has put his hand into his
neighbor’s goods.
9 “For any kind of trespass, whether it concerns an ox, a donkey, a sheep, or clothing, or
for any kind of lost thing which another claims to be his, the cause of both parties shall
come before the judges; and whomever the judges condemn shall pay double to his
neighbor. 10 If a man delivers to his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to
keep, and it dies, is hurt, or driven away, no one seeing it, 11 then an oath of the LORD shall
be between them both, that he has not put his hand into his neighbor’s goods; and the
owner of it shall accept that, and he shall not make it good. 12 But if, in fact, it is stolen from
him, he shall make restitution to the owner of it. 13 If it is torn to pieces by a beast, then he
shall bring it as evidence, and he shall not make good what was torn.
14 “And if a man borrows anything from his neighbor, and it becomes injured or dies, the
owner of it not being with it, he shall surely make it good. 15 If its owner was with it, he shall
not make it good; if it was hired, it came for its hire.
As you probably noticed, we're not talking about another Moabite this week. In
fact, you're probably wondering what in the world we are talking about. I must
admit, this is a bit of an odd passage to use as our scripture reading. It's
important to know that this was given to the children of Israel during a time when
God was preparing them to receive His Law. What you may not have noticed is
that everything mentioned in those fifteen verses has to do with taking
responsibility.
It begins by talking about a thief taking responsibility for what he has stolen. The
bottom line is that not only does he need to replace it but he must also multiply the
restitution. It's not like you can just give back what you've stolen. That wouldn't
really be making restitution because you would have lost anything. If you made it
a practice to steal, you would only have to give back what you'd stolen IF you get
caught. It could still be profitable. This forces you to take responsibility for your
actions. Also, if a thief is struck and killed while robbing someone at night, the
person who was protecting their home and family is not responsible. The thief
would be responsible for his own death because of his choice to steal.
Now, the next few situations are about someone who doesn't necessarily make the
choice to do something wrong. Maybe, your animal gets loose and grazes on
someone else's field or if you start a fire, like a campfire or something and it gets
out of hand and burns someone's field or their grain, guess what? You have to
take responsibility for it! If someone lends you something and something happens
to it, you have to take responsibility for it. Do you see a pattern happening? I
think God's letting us know it is important for us to take responsibility. As I said
before this lesson in responsibility comes before the giving of the Law. I believe
there's a very good reason for that. Let's go back to the beginning.
Genesis 3:9-13
9 Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and
I hid myself.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which
I commanded you that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree,
and I ate.”
13 And the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Neither of them took responsibility for their own actions. They both attempted to
justify their actions by throwing the blame elsewhere. I wonder if that's why God
asked the questions that He asked? God is all knowing so why would He need to
ask what had happened? Maybe He was giving them the opportunity to take
responsibility for what they had done. I wonder what may have been different if
they had been repentant? Let's take a look at their son.
Genesis 4:8-9
8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field,
that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?”
He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?”
See, again God asks a question He already knew the answer to. Cain, just as his
parents had done, does not take responsibility for his actions. God made things
clear to Solomon. 2 Chronicles 7:14, if My people who are called by My name will
humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. This is
what God requires, that we turn from our wicked ways. That we repent! Let's look
at someone who did repent!
Job 42:6-10
6 Therefore I abhor myself,
And repent in dust and ashes.”
7 And so it was, after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to
Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have
not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. 8 Now therefore, take for
yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves
a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with
you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My
servant Job has.”
9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did
as the LORD commanded them; for the LORD had accepted Job. 10 And the LORD restored
Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as
he had before.
Job repented and was given double what he'd had before. God accepted him.
Isn't that pretty much the theme of the prophets? Repent! Return to the LORD
Yahweh. We hear this theme repeated over and over in scripture. Isn't that the
message John the Baptist was sent to preach? To prepare the way for the Lord?
Matthew 3:1-8
1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying,
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the
prophet Isaiah, saying:
“ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘ Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.’”
4 Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and
his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around
the Jordan went out to him 6 and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to
them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear
fruits worthy of repentance.
Jesus told us over and over what was important.
Mark 2:16-17, 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax
collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax
collectors and sinners?”
17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician,
but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Matthew 11:20-24
20 Then He began to rebuke the cities in which most of His mighty works had been done,
because they did not repent: 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the
mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have
repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I say to you, it will be more tolerable for
Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, who are
exalted to heaven, will be[d] brought down to Hades; for if the mighty works which were
done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I say to
you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you.”
He rebuked the cities for failing to repent. He make it clear that He had come to
caller sinners to repentance. Luke 24:46-47, 46 Then He said to them, “Thus it is
written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the
third day, 47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to
all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
His disciples knew what the deal was. Mark 6:12, So they went out and preached that
people should repent. And Acts 3:19 (NASV), Therefore repent and return, so that your
sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of
the Lord (Whenever there is a question about a word I use the NASV because it is
our closest translation to the actual Greek and Hebrew that were used. The KJV
and the NKJV use 'convert' not 'return'. Peter seems to clearly be telling his fellow
Jews, to return to the the LORD Yahweh, not to convert to another religion)
It has always been about the repentance; having an attitude of repentance! So,
why does it seem like so many teach that the key is to believe that Jesus died for
their sin and to accept His sacrifice and therefore be saved? Make no mistake,
the blood being applied is most definitely what facilitates remission of sin.
However, in order to show fruit in keeping with repentance, as John the Baptist
said, there has to be a turn away from sin. I've just seen so many go to the altar,
say a prayer, and get baptized without ever seeming to take reponsibility for their
sin and turning from it; never showing any fruit of repentance. Repenting of sin is
more than some words to be said; there is action involved. I mentioned before
that our scripture reading was from the time when God was preparing Israel to
receive His Law, just as John the Baptist came to prepare the way. Let's take a
look at what He was preparing them for.
Exodus 24:4-8
4 And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built
an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of
Israel. 5 Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and
sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. 6 And Moses took half the blood and put it
in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the
Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has said
we will do, and be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and
said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all
these words.”
He was preparing them to take responsibility; to hear the words of the Law and
agree to be obedient. Notice that the sacrifice was made and part of the blood
was used to sanctify the altar. Then the Law was read to them. Then they
agreed to be obedient. Then the blood was sprinkled on them. Did you notice
the succession? Remember, this was a foreshadowing of the better sacrifice and
the better covenant that was to come. So, things should remain in that same
order for the new sacrifice and the new covenant. The sacrifice was made, half
the blood sanctified the altar, the Law was read, the people pledged obedience,
then the blood was sprinkled on them. When someone comes to the altar, we
must make sure that they are aware that obedience is required. We must be
aware for ourselves that obedience is required. We must also bear fruit, in
keeping with repentance. Leviticus 11:45, For I am the LORD who brings you up out of
the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Sermon by: Denise Baxley
Date: February 25, 2007
